Micah gazed at Amilek, her brown eyes dilating…..
"Tell me, Amilek…" she started off calmly.
"Who do you think holds the deepest secret within the castle walls? Micah's voice was very low; only Amilek could hear what she was saying.
"Why ask me a question that I can't answer? The little boy said, his gaze fixed on the fighters in the pit.
"You know the answer…" It slipped out of Micah's mouth.
Amilek retreated his gaze and shifted it to Micah.
"My mother won't be happy that I am conversing with a potential rival. What do I get in return for the information I am about to pass out?
Micah gazed at Amilek, a bit taken aback by his words. A little boy this sagacious at his age?
"You speak like the royalty you are; what do you want in return?" Micah questioned calmly.
Amilek was quiet for a while; he was thinking.
"Your chamber has a secret pathway leading to a bottom alley; you will give me permission to come to your chamber and take that route. I have to pay someone a visit." Micah's throat became dry.
"And how do you know that there is a secret pathway in my room? She asked, adjusting on the seat she was seated on.
"I just know." He said, fixing his gaze back on the fighters.
"And if your mother finds out? She will have another action to hold against me."
"She will only find out if someone tells her; do you plan on doing that? Because I don't." Amilek's words were filled with sarcasm; it was beginning to get on Micah's nerves.
"Never mind." Micah said, shifting her gaze back to the scene in front of her. She couldn't believe she was conversing with a little boy, who seems wiser than his age.
"Inside the castle there are three sets of people." Amilek began.
"The first ones are there for their personal interest, the second set are the ones there because of circumstances, and the third are the ones there to play a role that doesn't suit them." Amilek began, and Micah creased her brows as she shifted her gaze to him, totally speechless.
"Trust me when I say, the only way to dig up secrets in a castle that has existed for thousands of years is to make friends with those whose hair are grey and filled with wisdom." Amilek stopped talking when the match he was watching between two fighters came to an end.
Two new fighters came up, their swords started clashing, making noises, and the uproar from the crowd began. He could now continue talking because his voice would be overshadowed by the crowd; only Micah would hear what he was saying.
"You didn't act this mature when I placed a knife in your neck the other day."
"That was before I met him…." Amilek's eyes became lost in a deep darkness as if he were falling into a trance.
"You said you haven't forgiven me, yet you tell me this; you are cunning." Micah scoffed and then licked her lips.
"Believe me, if you had a mother and four stepmothers, with only one father who is the king, you would be quick to learn how things happen around here." Amilek said, and Micah smiled faintly.
"Who would you like to go and visit, taking the route in my chamber? She asked in an adroit manner.
"A friend of mine—his mother works in the kitchen, so he dwells there." Amilek lied with a straight face.
"I will inform you when I am ready to let a prince into my chamber." Micah was taunting him, with a calm expression etched on her face.
"A girl who wanted a simple life but ended up in a castle." Amilek mocked, and Micah froze on her seat. Her eyes blinked as her face became white.
She has never told anyone those words except for her sister. Micah quickly shifted her gaze to Amilek, but the latter had his eyes fixed on the fighters.
She wanted him to return the glare; she wasn't hearing things, was she? She swallowed hard, then let out a heavy breath…
"Who do you think is the oldest person in the castle? Micah's voice was shaking.
"Figure it out; you ask too many questions." Amilek complained. Micah didn't say anything; she felt lonely, even when amidst all this crowd.
Amilek sighed….
"Grand maester… the medicine man. If I have heard right, he has served three kings in Decreash." Amilek answered, and Micah's heart gladdened.
"Your mother is lucky to have you as her son." She said her voice void of emotions, but Amilek didn't return any comments.
Micah shifted uncomfortably on her chair until the tournament was over, with blood spilling and dead bodies. She was beginning to feel sick. By the time the tournament was over, the sun was high up in the sky.
The royal family glided out of the fighting square arena and made their way to the waiting carriages. In the same pairs they had come, they returned to the castle.
Ragaleon had an important meeting to attend to with his small council. The other queens retired to their chamber extremely exhausted, except for Jazell.
For some unknown reason, Johanna didn't grace the tournament. Jazell took this as an excuse to go and visit her chamber.
The black gown she was wearing had a long sleeve with a zip running from her neck down to her chest. Her short blonde hair seems to be growing longer, as it is now resting firmly on her shoulder. Her blue crystal eyes gazed straight ahead as she walked with precision.
She halted when she got to Johanna's chamber; she didn't knock. She simply opened the door slightly and then walked in on….
Jazell gazed at the scene in front of her; her brows ached as her crystal blue eyes stared in amusement.
"Well, this is entertaining." She calmly said, bringing Johanna back to her senses.
Johanna was seated on a rocky chair, her gown slightly raised up, a handmaid's face buried between her thighs, servicing her sexually.
Johanna's face was beaming with sweat, and as she was moaning, her nails ran through the maid's thick black hair, and her other hand poked in her left breast through the gown she wore, squeezing and pinching herself.
When Johanna heard Jazell's voice, she was startled. The handmaids servicing her quickly removed her head from under her mistress's gown. Johanna adjusted her gown; still seated on the rocky chair, she turned to gaze at Jazell.
"Why didn't you knock before entering? Johanna looked furious, but she has already been caught.
"I felt guilty when I entered without knocking, but now I don't regret a thing." Jazell said, making her way to where Johanna was seated, a sly grin etched on her lips.
"What you saw… Johanna still thought that she needed to explain.
"What I saw is a desperate widow trying to seek pleasure elsewhere since her husband is dead." The way Jazell talked always made her enemies feel uncomfortable around her.
"What do you want from me?" Johanna said.
"Just want to talk." Jazell said, taking her seat on a red cushion in Johanna's chamber.
Johanna tapped her fingers lightly, then signaled the maid in her chamber to pour them some wine.
"I have always wondered what it would feel like if I were in your shoes. The second queen reagent, which is nothing more than a title, of course, because you are not treated accordingly." Jazell said, taking the cup of wine a maid handed over to her.
"Are you here to rub your position in my face? Johanna asked, also taking the cup of wine the maid handed over to her.
"What is my position in the harem, Johanna? It is nothing but a title; we make people believe that we have power in our titles, but the truth is, we only have more responsibility and more burden to uphold." The queen of tactics was speaking in riddles.
Johanna was silent for a while; she took in Jazell's words as she sipped her wine.
"Selena has always been the true queen mother. She has the authority, and her son is the king; of what use am I? Besides, I like my position in the castle; less eyes are on me." Johanna answered and then dropped her golden cup on a table beside her rocky chair.
"Really? Jazell questioned Johanna on her last sentence.
"Have you ever imagined… seeing William on the royal throne of Decreash? Jazell asked without sparing her a glance.
Johanna spared Jazell a glance, then smiled wearily…..
"I have always known you to be sly with your ways, Jazell. You can only talk to people when they have value to give in return. Stop playing little games with me. Why are you really here?
Jazell smirked….
"Turns out we might really be good allies. Johanna, whatever I do, I do for the sake of the harem. The fewer the obstacles, the merrier we are." Jazell slowly rises up to her feet.
"You want me to be your ally? Why should I accept this juicy proposal you have set before me? Johanna asked as the rocking chair she was seated on went back and forth.
"Because you need me, Johanna, and I need an ally. Two heads are always better than one. Imagine what we could be together? An unstoppable force, and in return we will both benefit from it." Jazell walked up to where Johanna was seated and peered into her eyes.
Johanna's face was void of emotions, her dark obsidian eyes relentlessly scrutinizing Jazell.
She slowly rises to her feet and stretches out her hand. Jazell grinned hard, then took Johanna's hand as they shook hands with each other. Jazell always gets what she wants... She smiled and said…
"I feel that this is the beginning of a new relationship and a new era."